Are my maths on a BMW import right?
Hi,
I am looking at importing a BMW 4 Series from the UK, March 2018 with 100 miles on the clock. I am trying to work out the tax implications. Can you let me know if my assumptions below are correct?
Purchase price in UK £23,000 = €26,200
VAT Qualifying @20% = €4,367
VRT = €7,069 (from VRT calculator)
Revenue OMSP = €37,206
Irish VAT = €37,206 X 23% = €8,557
Total import cost = €26,200+€7,069+€8,557 = €41,826
VAT refund from UK = €4,367
Total car cost = €37,459
Thanks
Tim
Tim Crowe (Doon)Feb 2019 Filed under: importing
Expert answer
Hi Tim,
Yes, that looks about right to us and, if you’ve used the Revenue VRT calculator, then the VRT cost should be close enough to what you’ll actually have to finally pay. One word of warning — the calculator doesn’t allow for extra optional equipment, which can jack up the cost of VRT, so beware of that when you bring it down for inspection.
Which cars are best for comfort?
Hi,
Can you tell me which SUVs offer a driver's/seating position most like a standard car's? My wife and I currently both use her Opel Zafira and I find the seating position very upright and uncomfortable as the seats will not move back far enough. Effectively it means I have to lift my feet completely to operate the pedals instead of just pivoting on my heels as with a more reclined position. I have recently had a hip replaced and the other one is painful if I drive any reasonable distance.
We test drove a secondhand C-Class Estate and I wanted to buy it but she finds the seating position very cramped (in particular did not like the large console between the seats). We sat in a Honda CR-V after and she much preferred the space and lack of clutter between the seats but I found the seating position uncomfortable. Essentially we are looking for something that has the high ceiling, big windscreen and lack of clutter of most SUVs/MPVs, but with a seating position that gives good enough leg room for somebody over six-foot like me to pivot my feet on my heels rather than having to lift them to operate the pedals. Maybe we need two cars, which is a waste given we are city dwellers and do very small annual mileage between us.
Thanks
Kevin
Kevin McCormack (Dublin 8)Apr 2016 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Kevin,
That’s almost an impossible question for me to answer I’m afraid as, as you’ve pointed out, a car that many might consider comfortable and pleasant (the Honda CR-V) is uncomfortable for you. Mind you, you’re right about the C-Class Estate being small inside – it was never the biggest car around.
Is the Peugeot 206 CC any good?
Is the Peugeot 206 CC any good? What are the positives and negatives?
Loz Clark (Gold Coast)Oct 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi Loz,
Nope, very unreliable (especially the complex roof mechanism) and not much fun to drive. Avoid.
The car I just bought has no NCT...
I just bought a 2003 Peugeot 206 1.1, but its last NCT was in 2013. What does this mean, as it is to be tested every year. Can you help me?
John Dignam (DUBLIN IRELAND)Aug 2015 Filed under: NCT
Expert answer
Hi John,
You need to be very careful buying a car without an NCT. For all its flaw the test does go some way to ensure that cars on the road are at least basically roadworthy and a car without an NCT can be hiding all sorts of problems.
You also need an NCT to be able to tax (and in most cases insure) your car so you need to get it booked in as soon as possible. If you're buying it from a dealer or garage, they really should have the car NCT'd before selling it. If you bought it privately then the previous owner has missed at least one NCT test and either needs to produce an Off The Road certificate or you're into a legally murky area.
Anyway, the short answer for you is to get the car tested and sorted ASAP.
What is the Peugeot 207 CC like?
What is the Peugeot 207 CC 1.6 (cabriolet) like? I've seen a really nice one with very low mileage like new from 2007 and always liked it. I would like to buy it and the dealer is SIMI registered and offering guarantees so all seems good. How does this car average out / run in general? It would be just for myself (female) with a small child (primary school age).
Thanks
H. G. (Wexford)Jun 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi there,
Well, the 207 CC was certainly better-built than the 206 CC that preceded it, but you have to buy carefully - they're pretty heavy cars, so suspension and steering problems are common, as is high tyre wear. Electrical faults need to be watched out for too, and the roof mechanism is a constant source of angst - although you can manually wind it up or down with a wheelbrace if it gets stuck half-way, which is a common issue.
How much is my unusual Peugeot 206 SW worth?
How much will I get for a Peugeot 206 SW S estate diesel 1,997cc, first reg 25 05 2004 18,000 miles in superb condition?
Douglas Izon ( Solihull)Feb 2015 Filed under: used car values
Expert answer
Hi Douglas,
Quite a difficult car to value that, as there are (a) so few 206 SWs around and (b) that 2.0-litre engine is going to make it quite a hard sell. On that basis I'd say you'd be lucky to get €2,500 for it retail. Even less on a trade in.
Should I consider the Peugeot 206 as a first car?
I currently have an option to buy a three-door 1.1-litre Peugeot 206 for €1,100. The car has 79,000km, from 2002, NCT until March and no tax. It looks in good condition outside from just a few pictures. Do you think this is good value? Similarly there is a five-door version with 94,000km, NCT until May from year 2000. It will be my first time buying a car and I don't have much experience with cars really so is there anything I should be particularly worried about/need to check?
John Finnerty (Dublin)Jan 2015 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi John,
Yeah, that's not bad actually. The 206 has long been popular as a starter car or for those looking for something small and cheap to run. Just have a good check that anything electrical is working properly and make sure that the cabin is all holding together - its fragile in there. Also make sure that the central locking and heating systems are working properly.
What should I do about my car insurance?
I am a new learner driver and hold a provisonal licence. I am interested in buying a Peugeot 206 1.1-litre. I am 24 years old; roughly how much would it cost me to insure and who are the cheapest insurance for girls? Thank you
Kirsty Harris-green (Stourbridge )Jan 2015 Filed under: insurance
Expert answer
Hi Kirsty,
I'm afraid it's a classic case of how long is a piece of string? Insurance quotes are often plucked out of thin air and the only way to get the best value is to get on the internet and get on the phone and start looking. Now, based on the details you gave (and a bit of creative accountancy on our part - you do work in a call centre for an accounting firm and live in Skerries in Co. Dublin, right?) the best quote we were able to find for you came from AXA and it was €1,778 - that's for third party, fire and theft.
Obviously, having just third party would be a bit cheaper but it might be worth paying slightly extra this year and getting yourself a more solid insurance record. It's also well worth finding a good insurance broker and seeing what kind of deal they can swing for you. Brokers can often access deals that mere mortals cannot.
Let us know how you get on
How reliable is a 2004 Peugeot 206?
How reliable is a 2004 Peugeot 206 with an automatic gearbox?
John Allen (Bray)Oct 2014 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi John,
There are two schools of, quite influential, official thought on this. If you consult reliability expert JD Power, which conducts an annual vehicle reliability and customer satisfaction survey, the 206 is pretty dreadful. JD Power rates its reliability as below average, with poor interior quality, and it regularly finishes in the bottom ten of vehicles surveyed.
Over at Warranty Direct though, which independently insures vehicles against mechanical failure as part of its aftermarket warranty products, the picture is a little rosier. WD rates the 206's reliability as good, and certainly ahead of most of its French rivals. Problems tend to stem from the electrical system, and most of the time they're pretty cheap to fix.
To be honest though, in general, if you're looking at an older French car, you're looking at trouble.
What will I replace by Peugeot 206 with?
Hello lads,
I currently drive a Peugeot 206 and in my 10 years of ownership the last six months have been plagued by problems. Can you recommend a good diesel car, max €3,000? I drive approx 100 miles a day for work.
Thank you, John in Wicklow
John Mullane (Arklow)Apr 2014 Filed under: choosing used car
Expert answer
Hi John,
I'm going to be predictable and say you should get a Volkswagen Golf. A budget of €3k would definitely get you a MkIV 1.9 TDI model and you may even just scrape into a MkV, which would be even better again. Just track down one that's been looked after and serviced regularly and you should be fine.